California Attic Ventilation

It may seem odd to add insulation for warmth and then purposely allow cold air to enter the attic through vents, but this combination is the key to a durable and energy-efficient California home. Here's why: in the winter, allowing a natural flow of outdoor air to ventilate the attic helps keep it cold, which reduces the potential for ice damming. Proper insulation and air sealing also keeps attics cold in winter by blocking the entry of heat and moist air from below. In the summer, natural air flow in a well-vented attic moves super-heated air out of the attic, protecting roof shingles and removing moisture. The insulation will resist heat transfer into the house.

Attic Fans
Attic fans are intended to cool hot California attics by drawing in cooler outside air from attic vents (soffit and gable) and pushing hot air to the outside. However, if your attic has blocked soffit vents and is not well-sealed from the rest of the house, attic fans will suck cool conditioned air up out of the house and into the attic. This will use more energy and make your air conditioner work harder, which will increase your summer utility bill. Don’t forget to install an attic fan vent guard when installing your attic fans. These fans are the #1 entry point for birds, squirrels, raccoons, mice, etc… Let our team in California team install one of these units for you and protect your investment!

Doing the Job
Laying fiberglass rolls is easiest for a “do-it-yourselfer” job. If you have any type of insulation between the rafters, install the second layer over and perpendicular to the first (again, the second layer of roll insulation should be unfaced — with no vapor retarder). This will help cover the tops of the joists and reduce heat loss or gain through the frame. Our California attic insulation/ventilation specialists can also use blown-in cellulose insulation to provide an “attic cap” to your existing insulation.